Local Business

Throwback Thursday: Special Touch Massage (24 years in the making!)

To celebrate their 24th anniversary (in June) we decided to do a little write up/background on an awesome business with deep roots in Lake Charles…

Special Touch Therapeutic Massage: Humble Beginnings…Deep Roots.

What started out within a small room in a nail salon in June of 1994 has turned into a full-service massage therapy business. From humble beginnings Special Touch Therapeutic Massage in Lake Charles has grown steadily, becoming one of the more well-known and well-respected every year.

From that room in a nail salon, to taking on associates and moving into Gigi’s of Christus St. Patrick’s on Nelson Rd for 10 1/2 years, Special Touch has grown by leaps and bounds. Located now in Athlete’s Corner Plaza on West Sale Rd (next to Big Daddy’s) the owner is proud of what the business has become. Easily one of the most well-known and respected massage businesses in town with clients travelling from as far away as Baton Rouge and Houston, Tx. just to see our therapist.

Today, the staff is comprised of a half-dozen massage therapists including owner Joy Clement Derise.

The goal at Special Touch is to simply expose new people to the healing potential of massage, whether it’s relaxation or injury related reasons that you seek us out, we’re here to ease those pains and educate each client on how to assist in their own recovery and healing. We treat each and every one of our clients like family. We have clients that have been with us from the beginning over 24 years ago. We know them, their families, their lifestyles and their bodies. We celebrate their lives with them and look forward to welcoming you into our family as well.

Joy Clement Derise, is a licensed massage therapist, a 1980 graduate of St. Louis Catholic High School, attended McNeese State University, and is an alumni member of Phi Mu Fraternity. She is a former graduate and instructor at La. Institute of Massage Therapy. She is the owner of Special Touch Therapeutic Massage, opening her doors the day after graduation in June of 1994. She is a proud member of American Massage Therapy Association. She specializes in: Medicupping, AMS Cellulite Reduction, Deep Tissue, Sports, Prenatal and Geriatric therapies as well as Myofascial Release Techniques. She is also qualified in many other modalities. She is married to Jason. They are members of Our Lady Queen of Heaven Catholic Church. Her passion is to share with as many people as possible the positive effects of massage.